Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The New Creation

THIS YOUNG FELLOW is a Russian monk. The bear is wild: not a circus bear, not a photo-shopped bear, not an orphaned bear domesticated from birth, not a drugged bear, not a stuffed bear. We might think of the story of Saint Seraphim of Sarov who be-friended wild animals in the forest and Saint Francis of Assisi who calmed the wild wolf at Gubbio.

I can't explain how this happens, but we can wonder. Perhaps the monk is inwardly so reconciled with God, himself, other people, animate and inanimate things that he lives in something of the original creation of Genesis. Psalm 51:10 says, Create for me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. I suppose if one prays that prayer often, and desires that renewed heart, the results shouldn't surprise us. I imagine this monk has a de-militarized heart, that he doesn't wear masks and has no hidden agenda. I imagine he is a reconciler, free of greed and selfish preoccupations. I imagine he isn't a hater, is humble enough to say I'm sorry and has the desires of God as his priority. He clearly is a happy man.I'm looking at this monk sharing a hug with a wild bear and imagining a world without guns, rockets, bombs and grenades.

I wonder if this monk feels any danger. Sometimes when we give our love freely, we risk being hurt and broken. Blessed are those that are brave enough to expose their hearts to the risk of rejection in the hopes that their love will make the difference.

To be Christian, to be formed by a new vision of God, and to then go on mission to a world so dark and divided by confusion, pride, hatred, and prejudice. That God’s mercy and forgiveness, which is the heart of Christianity, is available for all who would embrace their own invitation to follow the Lord, regardless of who they are. Our response should be one of no hesitation to take up the same baton. Like passing the Olympic torch from one runner to another we now carry that light from those before us.

Oh yes! I also saw a picture of a Greek monk who feeds deer out of a bowl while he holds it for them. And a Buddhist monk who sits in the middle of a herd of deer and they all lay down and rest around him.

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Father Stephen was ordained a priest in 1979 for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York.
Before seminary he taught in New York City parochial schools. Following ordination he served as a parish priest and assumed chaplaincies to monastic sisters, a university hospital and a school-community for young people who had lost their life-direction. He currently resides at Christ of the Hills Retreat House in Pennsylvania. He has written and self-published "There is no problem..." a book of rosary meditations and The Way of the Cross, My Way of Life, a six week series of meditations on the traditional Stations of the Cross.